Michael, not quite so moving as your story, but some boys from down your way once brought me back to earth with rather a large bump. One Sunday morning I was happily standing in Lake Tutira fly fishing for trout. I was wearing chest waders so as you can imagine, I standing well past my nether regions in the water.

A school bus stopped on the bank and a group of young Maori boys got out, I believed they had been somewhere playing rugby. I assumed I was now going to be the centre of jokes from the shore but in fact what happened was quite the opposite. One of the lads asked, “Excuse me sir, may I ask if you have enjoyed any success?” 

This question, and more to the point, the way it was asked shamed me. The boys were from Te Aute College, which as you know is very near where you call home.

On another occasion I was running a commercial cleaning service, and as is usual I also cut lawns to earn a little extra. One of my regular clients was an elderly lady, someone whose lawn was little bigger than a postage stamp … it took longer to unload and reload the mower on my trailer than it did to cut the grass. It was not unusual for elderly people to come outside and chat, in fact I believe this was more important than getting the lawn cut. This lady had just recently come out of hospital from having a very serious operation, I am not sure if it was a single or double mastectomy, she had fallen victim to breast cancer.

It was during the afternoon and we had chatted for a few minutes, when she told me she had to go inside to watch her special television programme: 'The Young and The breast less'. For those who don't know this American, long running saga, it's proper name is 'The Young and the Restless'.

I would put the lady's age at around seventy, and I had nothing but admiration for her attitude and humour. To be treated for such a serious illness and come up laughing at it is to me simply amazing, what an example to set for others.

They say it takes the worst to bring out the best … I can't help but agree.

Ciderman said:

….. you meet someone who, when they've gone make you think!

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It is a shame that there are so few polite people today. It is very unusual to find a child interested in anything but a games console. What a lovely story.